Real Sociedad hosted Salzburg on Wednesday in a heartbreaking 0-0 Champions League draw, but despite this setback, they still lead their Group D and have already advanced to the round of 16.
In San Sebastian, there were a couple clear-cut opportunities. Benat Turrientes of Sociedad and Brais Mendez of Sociedad had several excellent chances, but their shots were saved and deflected wide, accordingly.
What does each team need to advance in the UCL?
For the very first time in ten years, Sociedad is competing in the Champions League. With five games played, they have 11 points, which puts them above Inter Milan, who finished second last season, on goal differential. On December 12, they played their final group match in Inter, a match that will determine the group winner.
Salzburg is in third place in the pool with four points. After losing their last three Champions League games, the Austrians will host bottom-of-the-table Benfica in the hopes of securing a spot in the Europa League with a draw. The possession and scoring opportunities were dominated by Sociedad, with Salzburg’s Alexander Schlagerby being the more active of the two goalkeepers.
After a superb defensive block, Turrientes’s shot from six yards was deflected just wide of goal; Arsen Zakharyan’s attempt, though it’s debatable if it was a shot or a cross, also missed the mark. After a clumsy defense by Sociedad gave Salzburg’s Nicolás Capaldo an uncommon clear sight of goal, his attempt was fragile and went directly at the home keeper Alex Remiro.
Mendez, who had been Sociedad’s best player in the Champions League this year, nearly scored the first goal as his curling 25-yard attempt seemed to be headed for the bottom corner, but Schlager made a fantastic save.
Sociedad persisted in their efforts, and they were given a great attacking alternative on the right wing when Umar Sadiq moved off the bench. However, they were unable to convert that pressure into goals due to a mix of poor finishing and multiple additional outstanding saves from Schlager, so the points had to be shared.
Although the hosts were in complete control from the opening whistle, Salzburg actually had the best chance to end the first half deadlocked. Dorgeles attempted a beautiful dink over Remiro as he hurried off his line, but the woodwork stopped him. They broke immediately on the counter. The second half saw several opportunities for Schlager’s goal, but the goalkeeper held strong and made big saves to deny Zakharyan, Sadiq, and Kubo, who believed he might have won it with his free kick at the last second before Schlager could get a hand to it.
